Chamber for expending consumable charges and charging apparatus therefor



I July 10, 1962 Filed Dec. 19, 1958 J. P. HAGERTY CHAMBER FOR EXPENDINGCONSUMABLE CHARGES AND CHARGING APPARATUS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1dos-m P. HAGERTY a QM A'rroRiEYS July 10, 1962 J. P. HAGERTY 3,043,105

CHAMBER FOR EXPENDING CONSUMABLE CHARGES AND CHARGING APPARATUS THEREFOR3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1958 INVENTOR. Jon-m P. HAGERTYATTQQMIYS July 10, 1962 J. P. HAGERTY 3,043,105 CHAMBER FOR EXPENDINGCONSUMABLE CHARGES PPARATUS THEREFOR AND CHARGING A 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Dec. 19, 1958 INVENTOR.

7 JOHN P-HAGERTY 7 QM f 63% 3,043 105 r; as non Exrnrtnmc CQNSUMAELEcannons cnsc APPARATUS John P. Hagerty, Box 470, Rte. 8, Tucson, Ariz.Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,594

3 Claims. (til. Gil-39.47)

and means for successively supp-lying new fuel charges to' the chamberas previous ones are consumed.

Solid'fuel rockets have many advantages over those employing liquidoxygen which combines with other liquids as the fuel. Solid fuelsgenerally are safer and easier to handle, and the combustion thereof ismore easily controlled. In many instances a higher thermal efiiciencycan be obtained in a rocket employing such fuel. When solid" fuels areburned in a conventional combustion chamber, the combustion spaceincreases as the fuel is consumed. This tends to cause the pressuresestablished by the products of combustion to decrease as the spaceincreases and thereby to decrease the reaction forces obtainable whenthe combustion products are emitted through an exhaust nozzle. thecombustion space may also affect the combustion characteristics of thefuel.

To overcome the above; disadvantages, the present invention provides achamber in which 'a'consumable charge is expended with means for movingthe remaining portion of the charge toward an exhaust opening in thechamber as the charge is consumed, and thereby maintain the size of thespace between the charge and the exhaust opening substantially constant.

The invention also provides a novel and useful means for sequentiallysupplying additional charges to a combustion chamber in order to prolongthe period of operation of the engine.

The invention may also find many other applications, such as to supplythrust power to drive an impulse or reaction turbine." The chargingapparatus per se has other uses, for such purposes as sequentiallysupplying carbon dioxide cartridges for soda fountains or fire fightingequipment. The charging apparatus can also be used as an improvedrotating magazine and charging device for firearms.

. It is,.therefore, a principal object of the invention to provideapparatus including a chamber in which a consumable charge can beexpended, with improved means for sequentially supplying additionalconsumable charges thereto. v

Another-object of the invention is to provide an improved combustionchamber, the combustion space of which can be maintained constant as acharge therein is consumed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof,reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which' FIG. 1 is aschematic view of a missile embodying a rocket engine according to theinvention; 7

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, with parts broken away, of the rocketengine shown in FIG. '1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of therocket engine;

FIG. 4 is a view in cross section taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

The variation in the size of dflthidd Patented July 10, 1952 FIG. 5 isan enlarged view in cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in cross section of the magazine section taken on theline 6--6 of FIG. 3, with bolt and ram parts omitted;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a consumable chargeemployed with the rocket in association with a portion of a firingmechanism employed therewith;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation of the firing mechanism shown in 'FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a control circuit suitable for use withthe rocket.

Referring to FIG. 1, a missile =10 embodying the invention comprises apower section 12, an explosives section 14, and a nose section 16 whichcan contain suitable guidance equipment and cooling apparatus for arocket engine 18 in the power section 12. The rocket engine 18 (FIGS. 2and 3) basically includes an exhaust nozzle or opening 26, a combustionchamber 22, a magazine 24, a loading cylinder 26, and a drive mechanismshown generally at 28. A consumable charge 3! is shown in position inthe combustion chamber 22. Such a charge comprises a body of solid,burnable fuel carried within a casing 32 of a suitable material which isconsumed or burned as the solid fuel is burned.

A firing mechanism 34 (FIGS. 7 and 8) is mounted in anannular flange 36at the forward end of the casing 32 and includes a powder case 38 havinga plurality of flame ports 40, which communicate with the solid fuel inthe casing 32, and a percussion cap 42 at one end thereof. Two ears 44extend inwardly from the case 33 and support an axle 46 which is alignedwith and extends into the hollow end of a rod 48, slidably supported ina housing 50 attached to the case 38. A hammer 52 is pivotally held onthe axle 46 and is powered by a spring 54 which is looped over the axle46 with one end abutting a portion of the ears 44-. The other end of thespring, which is shown in an unactuated position, can be actuated todrive the hammer 52 by engaging it in an arming notch 56 just before thecharges are loaded in the rocket engine. The hammer 52 is prevented frommoving by an enlarged tip 58 of a scar 66} which extends throughrectangular holes in the ears 44 and is afiixed to the forward end ofthe rod 48. The rod extends longitudinally through the casing 32 and hasan enlarged portion 62 slidably held in a tube 64 at the rear end of thecasing. When the rod 48 is moved forwardly, it moves the sear 6t} andthe enlarged tip 58 forwardly to cause the tip 58 to become disengagedfrom a notch in the hammer 52, which, then being free to move, is drivenby the spring 54 and strikes the percussion cap 42 to ignite the powderin the case 38. Burning com-bustion products from this powder areemitted through the ports 40 and ignite the solid fuel in the charge 39.The force of the burning solid fuel ejects the firingmechanism 3.4through the exhaust nozzle 2% The components of the firing mechanism canbe made of a low melting alloy so that they may be ejected in a moltenstate, or of combustible materials so that they maybe consumed with theburning ,of the solid fuel.

Before the missile is fired, one of the charges 30 is manually placed inthe combustion chamber 22 against stop or shoulder 65 (FIG. 2.) therein,with no mechanized load step being necessary until this charge isconsumed. Subsequent charges, however, are transferred to the chamber 22from the magazine section 24 and the loading cylinder 26 by means of abolt 66 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The bolt has a sealing ring 68 which seatsagainst a tapered member 70 at the rear of the combustion chamber 22when the bolt is in its forward operating position. The bolt is notchedon its periphery to provide keyways 72 one of which engages a key 74 atthe rear of the loading cylinder 26 and is reciprocated by means of aworm gear 76 rotated by a drive rod 78 engaged in a crank dog 80 anddriven by a motor 82 (FIG. 1). The bolt 66 is connected to the worm gear76 through a housing of a magnetic ram clutch 84 and the housing of aram motor 86, and the dog 80 is operatively connected to the gear 76through a magnetic bolt clutch 88. The worm gear 76 engages worm gearracks 90 longitudinally dis posed in a housing 92. The keyways 72 rideover the worm racks 90 when the bolt 66 is near its rearward position.

A ram 94 is carried in the bolt 66 and constitutes a means for movingthe charge 38 forwardly as it is consumed to maintain the space betweenthe charge and the exhaust opening 20 constant. The ram has a projection96 which, when in its forward position, strikes the enlarged portion 62of the rod 48 and fires the mechanism 34 to ignite the charge as abovedescribed. Near the rear end of the ram 94 is an internal worm gearfollower 98 which engages a worm rod 100 operatively connected to themagnetic ram clutch 84, so that the rod is rotated by the motor 86whenever clutch 84 is energized. The ram is in sliding contact with theinner surfaces of the keyways 72 and has radially extending members 102(FIG. 4) coacting therewith to prevent rotation of the ram duringforward and rearward movement thereof. The ram 94 is driven in a forwarddirection at a predetermined rate equal to, but independently of, theburning rate of the solid fuel in the charge 30, and so moves until thecharge 30 is consumed.

When a charge has been consumed, the pressure in the exhaust opening 20decreases abruptly. A pressure switch 104 (FIG. 2) communicating withthe exhaust opening through a tube 106 is tripped by this suddenpressure change. As will be more fully described, the switch 104 causesreversal of the motors 82 and 86 to cause the bolt 66 to retract beyondthe rear of the loading cylinder 26 and to cause the ram 94 to retractinto the bolt. When the bolt 66 reaches its rear position, thegear 76actuates a limit switch 108 (FIG. 2) which reverses the motor 82 andagain drives the bolt forwardly to push another charge from the cylinder26 into the chamber 22. When the bolt I 66 reaches its forward position,with the ring 68 sealed against the tapered member 70, the gear 76 tripsa limit switch 110 which stops the motor 82 and starts the motor 86 in aforward direction once again. The engagement of the gear 76 with theracks 90 holds the bolt 66 tightly with respect to the combustionchamber 22 and prevents any gas leakage from the chamber 22.

The charges 30 are transferred from the magazine 24 to the loadingcylinder 26 by rearward movement of the bolt 66. As the bolt 66approaches its rearward position upon retraction after the charge 30 isconsumed, a spring loaded pawl 112 (FIG. 5) carried by the bolt engagesin a helical slot 114 (FIG. 2) in a cylinder 118 rotatable about ahollow cylindrical hub 120 between the loading cylinder 26 and thehousing 92. The pawl 112, which can only move in a lineal direction withthe bolt 66, causes the cylinder 118 to rotate about the hub 120 byengaging in the helical slot 114 as the pawl moves rearwardly. The hub120 has a longitudinal opening through which the pawl 112 can extendfrom the bolt 66 into the slot 114.

The cylinder 118 is attached to the magazine 24 which has a plurality ofsemi-cylindrical receptacles 122 (FIG. 6) each of which holds one of theconsumable charges 30. Each charge is urged inwardly and out of itsreceptacle 122 by a loading arm 124 which is urged inwardly by a spring126 (FIG. 2). However, the charges are held in the receptacles 122 bymeans of retaining arms 128, the inner ends of which ride on the outersurface of the loading cylinder 26. When the retaining arms reach oneedge of an opening 130 in the cylinder 26, they can no longer offerresistance to the downward force of the loading arms 124 and, therefore,swing out of the way to enable the arms 124 to push the charge 30 intothe cylinder 126. At the other edge of the opening, the retaining armsare forced upwardly and out of the way again, as are the loading arms124. A new charge is pushed into the loading cylinder 26 each time themagazine 24 is rotated to bring a charge into alignment with the opening130 in the cylinder.

After the charge 39 is transferred into the cylinder 26, the bolt 66 ismoved forwardly to push the charge 30 into the chamber 22. When the boltreaches its forward position, the limit switch 110 is tripped causingthe motor 86 to drive the ram 94 forwardly, striking the portion 62 ofthe rod 48 to ignite the charge.

The symmetrical position of the magazine 24 around the cylinder 26 isparticularly advantageous because it enables the charges to besymmetrically located around the center line of the combustion chamber22 so that a missile body of minimum diameter can be employed. By usinga single combustion chamber, rather than burning each of the charges 30in its own receptacle 122, a much lighter weight is possible becauselight construction materials can be used throughout the rocket, with theexception of the combustion chamber.

While it is understood that various means can be employed to control themotions of the charging mechanism and the ram, the following discussionand FIG. 9 illustrate a circuit by means of which effective control canbe established. v

The circuit of FIG. 9 employs the switches 104, 108 and 110, each ofwhich is shown in an unactnated position. The limit switch 108 is of aconventional type with a core extension 132 and contacts 134. Thepressure switch 104 is connected to a limit switch 136 through a line138 with both the limit switches 110 and 136 being of the latch and triptype, each of these components being designated L and T, respectively.The latter two limit switches have core extensions 140 and 142 withdouble sets of contacts 144, 146 and 148, 150, respectively. Current maybe from any suitable source such as a battery 152 grounded at 154 andconnected to a main lead line 156. Current is supplied to the bolt motor82 and the magnetic bolt clutch 88 through lines 158, 160, 162 and 164,and hence to a ground 166 through lines 168, 170, 172 and 174. Currentis supplied to the clutch 88 and the motor 82 in the reverse directionthrough lines 176, 178 and the lines 174, 172, 170 and 168, and hence toa ground 180 through the lines 164, 162, 160 and a line 182. Current issupplied to the ram clutch 84 and the ram motor 86 to drive the ram 94in a forward direction by means of lines 184, 186, 188, 190 and 192, andhence to the ground 166 through lines 194, 196, 198 and the line 174.Current is supplied to the clutch 84 and v the ram motor 86 in thereverse direction through the lines 176, 178, 174, 198, 196 and 194, andhence to a ground 200 through the lines 192, 190, 188 and a line 202.

The circuit functions as follows: When the bolt 66 is moving forwardlywith the ram 94 stationary therein, all of the switches are unactnatedand are in the positions shown in FIG. 9. In these positions, thecontact 144 of the limit switch connects the lines 158 and and thecontact 148 of the limit switch 136 connects the line 174 and the ground166 so that current is supplied to the bolt motor 82 in a forwarddirection and, with the clutch 88 engaged, moves the bolt 66 forwardly.At the same time, the lines 184 and 186 are disconected which preventsthe ram motor 86 from being actuated and the ram clutch 84 from beingengaged. Thus, the ram 94 remains stationary with respect to the bolt66. When the bolt 66 reaches its forward position, with the sealing ring68 seated against the tapered member 70, the limit switch 110 isactuated by the gear 76, causing the contact 144 to connect the line 182and the ground and also causing the contact 146 to connect the lines 184and 186. The contacts remain in these positions until the latch isreleased when the trip is actuated. Current is now supi plied throughthe lines 184 and 186 to the ram motor 86 and the clutch 84 and hencethrough the line 174 to the ground 166 to cause the motor 86 to drivethe ram forwardly. At the same time, the lines 158 and 160 are open toprevent the flow of current to the bolt motor 82. A resistance 204 islocated in the line 186 to control the speed of the motor 86 to drivethe ram 94 at a forward rate equal to the rate at which the charge 30 isconsumed.

When the charge is completely consumed, the pressure in the exhaustopening 20 abruptly decreases and causes the pressure switch 164 toactuate the limit switch 136.

This limit switch causes the contact 148 to connect the lines 176 and178 and also causes the contact 150 toconmeet the line 202 to the ground200; the contacts 144 and 146 still remain in their actuated positions,the limit switch 110 not being tripped. With these positions of thecontacts, current flows through the lines 176 and 178 to the motor 82and hence through the line 182 to the ground 180. This drives the motor82 in the reverse direction. Similarly, current flows through the lines176, 178 and 174 to the motor 86 and hence to the line 202 and theground 2.00 to drive the motor 86 in the reverse direction. The bolt 66thus retracts toward the rear of the rocket and at the same time the ram94 retracts into the bolt 66. The ram $4 moves rearwardly more rapidlythan forwardly because current does not flow through the resistance 204,and the ram is fully retracted into the bolt by the time the boltreaches its rear position.

When the bolt 66- is at the rear position, the gear '76 depresses andactuates the limit switch 108 to cause the contacts 134 to connect lines296 and 263 to supply current therethrough to trip the latch of thelimit switch 110 and through a line 210 to trip the latch of the limitswitch 136, and hence to a ground 212. The contacts of the limitswitches 110 and 136 thereby return to their tripped,

unactuated positions to supply current again to the clutch 8S and thebolt motor 82 to move the bolt 66 forwardly. At the same time, thecontacts 146 open to prevent flow of current to the ram motor 86. Thebolt 66 thus again moves forwardly and the ram 94 remains stationary,retracted in the bolt 66. This condition exists until the Limit switch110 is again tripped and the cycle repeats.

Theoverall operation of the rocket motor 13 is now set forth. Before themissile is fired, the rocket is manually loaded with seven of thecharges 36, including six in the semi-cylindrical receptacles 12 2 andone in the combustion chamber 22. The bolt 66 is in its forward positionat this time with the sealing ring 68 seated against the member 70. Whenready for firing, the ram @4, which is in its rear position andsufiiciently is recessed in the bolt 66 to prevent the projection 96from striking the rod 48, is moved toward its forward position by meansof the ram motor 86. When the projection 96 strikes the enlarged portion62 of the rod 48, the enlarged tip 58 of the sear 60 is pushed out ofthe notch in the hammer 52 and enables the spring 54 to swing the hammer52 against the percussion cap 42. Explosion of the percussion cap 42ignites the ignition powder in the case 38 and burning combustion gasesare emitted through the ports 46 into the solid fuel in the casing 32.The firing mechanism 34 is then ejected through the exhaust opening 26as the fuel burns, with the combustion products also emitted through theexhaust opening 20 to produce thrust. The fuel burns relativelyuniformly over the lateral area of the casing, and as it burns backtoward the rear of it, the casing is pushed against the stops 65 by theram 94 to maintain the combustion space constant between the remainingportion of the charge 30 and the nozzle 20. When the charge is consumedand the ram 94 is moved to its forward position, the pressure drops andthe pressure switch 104 actuates the switch 136 to reverse the directionof the motors 82 and 86. The ram 94 is thereby retracted into the bolt66 as the bolt is retracted to the rear of the loading cylinder 26 whichcauses the pawl 112 disengaged from the slot 114 due to the slantedcontiguration of the upper end of the pawl which causes it to be pushedout of the slot 114 and under the wall of cylinder 7 118. The belt movesthe new charge into the chamber 22 until the sealing ring 68 seatsagainst the member 70, at which time the limit switch 110 is depressedand the motor 86 moves the ram 94 forwardly to fire the new charge andpush it toward the exhaust opening to keep the combustion spaceconstant.

Apparatus according to the invention basically comprises a chamber, aconsumable charge for the chamber, and means for urging the chargetoward an exhaust opening in the chamber at the same rate that thecharge is consumed, to maintain a substantially constant space betweenthe remaining portion of the charge and the exhaust opening.- Theinvention also comprises a chamber, a consumable charge for the chamber,a loading cylinder aligned with the chamber, means for holding aplurality of additional charges around the loading chamber, means fortransferring charges from the magazine to the loading chamber, and meansfor moving the charges from the loading chamber into the consumingchamber.

It is to be understood that although only one specific form of theinvention has been disclosed, various modifications for numerousapplications can be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims. I

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for sequentially consuming a plurality of charges, saidapparatus comprising a chamber in which a charge is consumed, saidchamber having an exhaust opening at one end thereof through whichproducts given off by the charge are exhausted, a loading cylinderaligned with said chamber in fixed relationship with respect thereto,said cylinder having an opening in a side wall thereof, charging meansmovable in said cylinder to transfer a charge from said cylinder intosaid chamber, means for maintaining a plurality of charges circumjacentsaid loading cylinder, saidmeans communicating with said opening of saidloading cylinder, and means for sequentially transferring said chargesdirectly to said loading cylinder laterally from said latter means whensaid charging means is at the rear thereof.

2. Apparatus for sequentially consuming a plurality of charges, saidapparatus comprising a chamber in which a charge is consumed, saidchamber having an opening at one end thereof through which products ofthe charge are exhausted, a loading cylinder aligned with said chamberadjacent the end thereof opposite the opening, charging means movable insaid cylinder to transfer a charge from said cylinder into said chamber,wall means forming a plurality of connected receptacles equally spacedaround said loading cylinder for holding a plurality of charges, meansactuated by said charging means when atrthe rear of said loadingcylinder for rotating said wall means around said cylinder, and meansfor transferring the charges individually directly from said wall meanslaterally to said loading cylinder when said wall means are rotated.

3. Charge apparatus for sequentially supplying consumable charges to achamber, said apparatus comprising a loading cylinder adapted to bepositioned adjacent an end of the chamber and aligned therewith, saidcylinder having an opening in a side wall thereof, a charging boltslidably movable in said cylinder, means for driving the bolt away fromsaid chamber and toward the rear of the loading cylinder, a plurality ofconnected receptacles mounted for rotation about said loading cylinderin cir- 5 cumjacent relationship with respect thereto for sequentiallyplacing additional fuel charges adjacent said opening in the loadingcylinder, means actuated by said bolt for transferring another charge tosaid loading cylinder when the 'bolt is at the rear thereof, and meansfor driving the 10 bolt forward to move said charge into said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

